Story of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz ( 1600/1610 – 1637)

Lorenzo Ruiz was born around 1600 - 1610 in Binondo, Manila, Philippines. His father, of Chinese descent and her mother's native Philippines. Both parents are Catholic. During adolescence, he learned Spanish from the Dominicans.He is very enthusiastic to be altar boy and waiter sacristy.Lorenzo Riuz blessed with talent calligraphy. The handwriting was very nice until he believes holds the task as escribano, people who transcribe documents such as letters of the Church baptism, marriage, confirmation, and the other into the official book of the Church.Lorenzo is also actively follow the Brotherhood of the Holy Rosary prayer group that formed the Dominicans when they arrived in the Philippines, in 1587. In 1636, there was a major crime event in Manila. At the time of the Filipinos against the Spanish colonies, Lorenzo was accused of killing one of the Spaniards. Local police chase.Faced with this, Lorenzo decided to seek refuge in the Dominican monks. One day, he found a ship that would dispatch the Dominican missionaries to land their respective missions. Lorenzo thinks, they all will leave for Macao, China. He wanted to go with them. One of the superior Dominicans who believe that Lorenzo was not guilty, let him climb the ship.Apparently, the ship will leave for the Port of Okinawa, Japan. At that time, Christians in Japan was in turmoil. They were being chased and tortured Tokugawa Dynasty government. Arriving in Okinawa, Lorenzo and the Dominican missionaries were arrested and imprisoned. Subsequently, on July 10, 1636, they brought to the "Mount Martyr" on Nagasaki. There, they made the object of torture the Japanese soldiers for more than a year.They were tortured by the Japanese-style torture method called Tsurushi. During the torture, they hung upside down. Their bodies bear a large rock for a while they fell from the mountain because of its own weight. Nails and skin clamped and plucked them one by one until they are in pain and lost consciousness.They were forced to deny their faith in Christ. Lorenzo was also threatened with the death penalty if they do not want to deny his faith. When forced to do so, he said, "I'm not going to do it. I am a Catholic and I'm happy to die for my faith in God. If I have a thousand lives I can give, will I dedicate everything to God. "On September 23, 1637, Japanese soldiers began torturing Lorenzo with sadistic. They hang them upside down and pulling out the fingernails and toenails. After two days of being tortured because of loss of blood and cold, Lorenzo died. His body was cremated and his ashes thrown into the sea.Lorenzo Ruiz was beatified Pope John Paul II on February 18, 1981 in Luneta Park, Manila when the pope was visiting the Philippines. He was canonized on October 18, 1981 in Rome. He was crowned the patron Saint of all Filipinos, whether they are in domestic and overseas, and all the people who live in poverty.Here is the prayer of devotion to Saint Lorenzo Ruiz: 

My God is Merciful and the Almighty,You have given him the Saint Lorenzo Ruiz,strength to remain steadfast in faith toward You.Through prayer,help us imitate him,to remain firm to face trial this life.With hope and faith in thy nameYes, Saint Lorenzo RuizYou bring honor to your countryto give up your lifeand become witnesses of Christ in your lifeuntil dying to meet you.We asked the Saint Lorenzo Ruiz as an intermediaryon God to always protect and give us gracefor all our actions can lead us more familiar withand more love Jesus, our Lord and Saviour
We also ask theSaint Lorenzo Ruiz as an intermediary for the beloved,for we also enjoy the glory of Godin nobleness yourselfas a martyr of Christand defenders of Christian faithAmen